Cowboys player killed in crash played in S.A., was expectant father

In this 2012 file photo, NFL football player Jerry Brown of the Indianapolis Colts is shown. Dallas Cowboys defensive lineman Josh Brent is facing an intoxication manslaughter charge after a one-vehicle accident that killed Brown, a member of the team's practice squad. Irving police spokesman John Argumaniz said the accident happened about 2:20 a.m. in Saturday, Dec. 7, 2012, in the Dallas suburb. The Cowboys signed Brown to their practice squad on Oct. 24, but he hasn't been on the active roster. Photo: File / AP

In this 2012 file photo, Josh Brent of the Dallas Cowboys NFL football team is shown. Brent is facing an intoxication manslaughter charge after a one-vehicle accident that killed teammate Jerry Brown, a member of the team's practice squad. Irving police spokesman John Argumaniz said the accident happened about 2:20 a.m. in Saturday, Dec. 7, 2012, in the Dallas suburb. Photo: File / AP

This photo provided by the Irving Police Department shows Dallas Cowboys' Josh Brent. Brent has been charged with intoxication manslaughter after he was speeding early Saturday, Dec. 8, 2012, in Irving, Texas, and his vehicle hit a curb and flipped, resulting in the death of teammate Jerry Brown. Photo: Irving Police Department / AP

The St. Louis native played in the Canadian Football League and in an arena league team in Jacksonville before landing in the Alamo City earlier this year to play for the San Antonio Talons' in their inaugural season.

In May, Brown got an opportunity most arena league players dream about — he was signed as a free agent with the Indianapolis Colts.

The dream ended early Saturday when Brown, a member of the Dallas Cowboy's practice squad since late October, was killed in a one-car accident. He was 25.

Cowboys teammate Josh Brent was behind the wheel. Brent, 24, who failed a field sobriety test at the scene, has been charged with intoxication manslaughter.

Brown was unresponsive when police arrived at the wreck and later pronounced dead at an Irving-area hospital.

Investigators still are compiling an official report detailing the incident, but according to an Irving Police Department news release, the wreck happened at 2:21 a.m. when the vehicle Brent was driving struck a curb and flipped at least once before landing in the middle of the access road in the 1400 block of State Highway 114.

Following the field sobriety test, Brent was taken to a hospital for a mandatory blood draw to determine his blood-alcohol content.

A magistrate judge had not yet seen Brent by Saturday afternoon, meaning bond has not been set for the second-degree felony charge.

Following the crash, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said in a statement, “We are deeply saddened by the news of this accident and the passing of Jerry Brown.

“At this time, our hearts and prayers and deepest sympathies are with the members of Jerry's family and all of those who knew him and loved him.”

The Cowboys said in a statement that Brent was not on the team flight to Cincinnati, where the Cowboys play the Bengals on Sunday.

The 6-foot-5 Brown hailed from St. Louis. He played college football for the University of Illinois where he and Brent were teammates.

Brown joined the Jacksonville Sharks arena league team in March 2011 and then signed with the Canadian Football League's Hamilton Tiger-Cats in September of that year before coming to San Antonio for the 2012 season.

Those who knew him from his time in San Antonio described a driven, explosive player on the field, just looking for his chance to show what he could do.

“I saw right away that he could play,” recalled Talons' Head Coach Lee Johnson, after watching Brown play in Jacksonville. He believed Brown had the talent to succeed in the NFL but “slipped through the cracks,” partly because of his size: a little small for a defensive end but too big to be an outside linebacker.

“He was just an aggressive player and just a phenomenal defensive end,” said Talons' wide receiver Robert Quiroga, who described Brown as friendly and easy going.

Quiroga, a San Antonio native, was often the go-to guy for information about his hometown. He remembered in particular how impressed Brown was with Fiesta San Antonio, riding with the team on a float during the Fiesta Flambeau night parade.

But always, Brown wanted to get to the NFL, and he worked hard to do it.

It showed.

Johnson recalled sitting with Cowboys scout Will McClay as they watched Brown play and take off down the field.

“‘Oh my goodness,'” McClay told Johnson. “‘Who is that?'”

Even if Brown didn't have size on his side, Johnson said, “he definitely had the engine for it.”

He followed Brown's career from his high school days in St. Louis, which was also Johnson's hometown. Knowing “what it took to get out of that” and then be on the brink of playing in the NFL made Johnson feel his death that much more acutely.

“This kid just got right there, looked like he was about to get the opportunity to show the world what he can do,” Johnson said Saturday, his voice breaking. “And then something like this happens.”

Jason Minnix, host of the radio program “The Blitz” on 1250 ESPN, said Brown was a gifted athlete and also an intelligent one.

“He was a smart guy, he was funny,” said Minnix, who announced the Talons' play-by-play on the radio. “He wasn't just a football guy.”

Though Minnix was familiar with Brown from his time with the Talons, the radio host had interviewed Brent on his program on Thursday. They spent the time talking about the Cowboys' upcoming game against the Bengals.

Brent has played in all 12 games this season and has been a bigger presence on defense, with starting Cowboys nose guard Jay Ratliff battling injuries. .

Brent had been doing “a great job” filling in for Ratliff, Minnix said. On the radio, he talked about needing to step up and be ready to play.

“The fact that he was out drinking the night before they were set to leave for Cincinnati is very disappointing,” Minnix said.

The fatal accident happened a week after another NFL tragedy, in which Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Jovan Belcher killed his girlfriend and then committed suicide on Dec. 1.

Brown was not married.

Minnix last spoke to him about three weeks ago, about a month after he'd been picked up by the Cowboys. They didn't talk about football or Brown's NFL dreams.

They talked about family — Brown was expecting a daughter. He wanted Minnix's advice, because he has a daughter.